[SLL] OT: Weird Hardware Problem

[Abha Harting]

I have built a lot of systems and about 2 months ago--I build a my first
modern Intel system. I had been focused on Athlons for years. I built this
for a friend of mine. This one has a retail quad core CPU [2.4 ghz] with an
Abit motherboard [IP35-E]. I got a 500watt Thermaltake PSU. The system was
developing power problems early on as occasionally it would fail to start.
This went on for awhile but then it got worse and wouldn't start at all.

The original PSU did not have the 8 pin axillary power plugs (it only had
the four plug) so initially I thought that was the problem. So I went out
and got a new  Enermax 535watt power supply that had the 8 pin  plugs. The
guy in the shop said this might be it because the 4 pin plug was fine for
the dual core machines but the quad core needs the extra plug for the extra
cores.

When transporting the machine over to me my friend put it in the car with
the motherboard side up and the CPU fan FELL OFF. That is another story...I
will spare you a lengthy rant about the crappy fittings they designed to
"secure" the fan to the motherboard--it is too pathetic for words! I hope
the CPU fan didn't flop around inside the case and damage something.

Anyway, I got the newer PSU in today and reattached the CPU fan to the
processor and here is what happened. When I turn on the system I get a puff
of power and then it flags....then it goes some more to the point where it
BEEPS but then it DIES altogether. Remember that the 500 watt Thermaltake
worked OK for at least 2-3 months. This machine is not loaded up with a lot
of drives either. It has 2 SATA drives and a 256mg Pxe video card.

I am quite baffled. Usually when there is a problem with the CPU, the fans
will go and there will be no visuals. With this it never makes it to the
visuals and preliminarily starts and then flags before the post even shows
up on the screen.

I have never run into a problem like this one. AND, the parts being as new
as this makes it still pretty exotic. I do not have the ability to test
these parts on a different system.

Any ideas as to what on earth might be wrong? Any help appreciated.

Abha